So, husband and I have been homeschooling the Child since easter, and the whole family are so much happier. One of her favorite things to do is get the sewing machines out and have fun making something. I try to get other things into it like the maths of measuring, problem solving in designing etc...Today the child decided she wanted to do some sewing. Fine, it's horrible weather, we've nothing better to do!!!

She wanted to make herself a top to wear to a sewing fun class she's going to next week. It's a kid's "how to make your own bunting" class at a local bookshop.... ANYWAY...... I thought a square shirt would be easiest for her to handle. I used this tutorial to make one for myself a while ago, so I showed Child how to mark it out, pin, cut, what a seam allowance is, what needle to use with a knit fabric.... she already knows how to use a sewing machine. http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=118928.0 <--- awesome tute.

Here is her shirt. she did the sewing with minimal input from me, then decided it needed bows at the nackline so I showed her how to do those and she stitched them on. the best bit? she's not even 7 years old yet.

thankfully she fabric she picked out of my fabric box doesn't need hemming, it's a waffle type knit fabric so it wont fray

Her second project today was a hat for her Dad. it's got really cold here this week! she drew a design, I cut the fabric and pinned for her, the sewed both the hat and lining an I helped her to hem. next project this week? who the heck knows!!!

anyone who thinks they can't make this shirt is nuts, seriously. click the tutorial link. even if you're "circus mirror" style like me (very short, quite wide lol) or straight up and down like the child, it looks good!!!

That is super fantastic!!! We homeschool too and my 6yo daughter is dying for the day that I let her operate the sewing machine. I guess we'll have to try it out now. I was making her hand sew, but she isn't so good at tying off, so that's been slow going. Maybe the sewing machine will go better.

Soph is terrible at hand sewing, she hasn't the coordination, but I was hoping that the closely supervised use of the machine will help that.

I know it helped my coordination. I swear it's one of the reasons I've recovered from minor brain damage following a coma! having to use my foot, and hands, and check the fabric, and not sew my fingers, and relax and enjoy myself seems to have started new pathways forming in my brain to replace the ones that got fried by the minor oxygen deprivation...

I noticed after the first few months of machine sewing post-damage, I could walk better and could also walk and talk at the same time (no mean feat). My neurologist says it's not a coincidence either. I am hoping that the same pathways will begin to form in Soph's brain, making her a little more coordinated.